As insane as it sounds, Bubsy: Paws on Fire! is a competent, if repetitive, running platformer that manages to correct quite a few of the issues that plagued The Woolies Strike Back. It has some level design issues and can get repetitive, but Paws on Fire! is still a competent step-up for the Bubsy franchise.
Bubsy: Paws on Fire!
Developer: Accolade and Choice Provisions
Price: $20
Platforms: PS4 (reviewed), PC, and Nintendo Switch at a later date.
MonsterVine was provided with a PS4 code for review
Back when I reviewed Bubsy: The Woolies Strike Back, I was, uh, unimpressed. I wrote: “Bubsy represents a terrible trend of tired self-awareness that tries to excuse bland gameplay and miserable level design. Don’t play Bubsy, and don’t buy it ironically,” and that was one of the nicer things I had to say. When Paws on Fire was announced, I wasn’t exactly expecting much. If anything, I expected it the sequel to be the same mess but (somehow) with even less charm. It’s genuinely shocking to me that Bubsy, a franchise whose entries range from forgettable to awful, has produced a perfectly average game. I mean, it’s not a game-changer, but it’s competent, and that’s a great first step.
The story is essentially “Bubsy has to fight off a bad guy with his wacky friends,” but you probably aren’t here for the story– and if you are, you really shouldn’t be. Multiple characters from older entries in the Bubsy series (and even the pilot of the unaired cartoon) appear, like the 90’s nerd Vergil Reality and Bubsy’s nephew and niece, who aren’t really related to him. I’d say half of them are alright, while the other half are pretty grating. You don’t have to listen to them too much during gameplay though, so it’s not a deal-breaker.
The gameplay of Paws on Fire is quite different from the platforming of The Woolies Strike Back, leaning into the endless runner genre a la Bit Trip Runner instead, with slight variations on the core gameplay depending on which of the three playable characters you choose. Bubsy’s levels are straightforward platformers, while Vergil’s are more strict with timing your jumps. Woolie’s levels are lite shoot-em-ups, which are a nice change of pace, despite feeling a bit underdeveloped when compared to the other two gameplay styles. There are even bonus levels where you slide around tunnels as Arnold the Armadillo, though the controls on these levels feel frustratingly clunky at times.
Bubsy’s levels feel the most well-designed, as they’re rarely frustrating and can actually be pretty enjoyable. Vergil’s levels are more challenging, but the challenge often feels uneven due to his sometimes unresponsive controls. Collectibles and obstacles in Vergil’s levels often feel poorly placed, as if they’re only there to cause frustration. Woolie’s levels are the easiest, as you can hold down the “fire” button and win without much maneuvering. They’re not bad, by any means, just simple.
Visually, Paws on Fire is incredibly average. The animations in the opening cutscene are unpolished, but models look fine in gameplay for the most part. Stages feel fitting and don’t distract from gameplay, and enemies come in more varieties than just “woolies” this time, which is refreshing. The music can be surprisingly catchy, though the voice-acting is as agitating as ever. Though to be fair, it wouldn’t be a Bubsy game if the voice-acting was overly enjoyable.
The Final Word
Bubsy: Paws on Fire is a shockingly competent game, especially when compared to the rest of the Bubsy series. It has some questionable level design and it gets old pretty quickly, but Paws on Fire is still a completely alright step in the right direction for Bubsy and his tolerable friends.
MonsterVine Rating: 3 out of 5 – Average
